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Chapter 575: Retreat (Part )
Liu Hengchang's question hit the border troops' sore spot.

Over the years, the border troops relied on the danger of the city walls to barely hold on when the Rouran cavalry invaded. It can be said that the retreat of the Rouran barbarians was a great victory for the border troops.

The border troops were simply unable to rescue the large number of civilians abducted by the Rouran barbarians.

General Fan sighed with some shame: "Commander Liu, I am also heartbroken for the people of Daliang who were taken away. But you have also seen the actual situation of the border troops. There are only 10,000 cavalrymen who can really mount horses and fight. The infantry entered the grassland and could not even find any trace of the Rouran barbarians."

"These 10,000 cavalrymen are the real foundation of the border army. If I send the cavalrymen out out of anger, not only will I fail to save people, but I will also lose the entire cavalry battalion."

This was not the fault of the border troops. In fact, of all the troops in Daliang, only a few garrisons in the capital were mainly cavalry. Daliang did not have so many war horses, nor could it afford to spend so much money and food to support too many cavalry.

Even if all the cavalry in the capital were sent out to pursue the Rouran barbarians on the grassland, they would still be no match for them in horse battles.

This is the current situation of the war between Daliang and Rouran. Whether they take the initiative to attack or retreat, the initiative is always on the side of the Rouran barbarians.

Liu Hengchang knew this very well, and he said it at this time not to deliberately hurt General Fan, but to remind General Fan not to be blinded by the so-called great victory.

"I understand the difficulties you are facing," Liu Hengchang said slowly, "I am saying this to ask you to remember the blood feud between Daliang and Rouran."

"The Rouran barbarians have retreated this time, but I don't know when they will come again. I hope the general will actively train the border troops."

"I have some experience in training cavalry in the military camp. Here is the training strategy I wrote. Please take a look at it when you are free. It may be helpful."

Liu Hengchang was well prepared. He pulled out a thin booklet from his sleeve pocket and handed it over.

General Fan immediately took the booklet, flipped through a few pages, and his eyes lit up: "Good! Good! Commander Liu is indeed a great leader and good at training troops. This kindness, I will accept."

General Song was so eager that he asked shamelessly, "General, can you lend me a hand to take a look?"

General Fan was very straightforward and gave the booklet to General Song.

General Song read it for a while, his eyes lit up, and he held the book tightly, refusing to let go: "Commander Liu, can I have someone copy this book so that we can use it for training in the future?"

He was afraid that Liu Hengchang would not agree, so he hurriedly added a few more words: "Song Yuan is my nephew, and the late Princess Nanyang is my cousin. In terms of seniority, the princess should call me uncle when she sees me."

Liu Hengchang smiled and said, "General Song is right. The Song family and our Nanyang Palace are relatives by marriage, and we have always had close contacts. Before I came, the princess also specifically told me to get closer to General Song. I am grateful that General Song has not abandoned this training strategy, so just copy it down and take it away."

General Song was overjoyed and patted Liu Hengchang on the shoulder: "Thank you very much! Commander Liu has a generous personality. I, Song, will make Commander Liu my friend!"

Liu Hengchang also laughed and spoke affectionately to General Song.

General Fan saw it all and felt a little sad.

There are so many talented people under the command of Princess Nanyang!

……

The good news of the Rouran's withdrawal spread quickly across the north and reached Nanyang County.

Nanyang Princess Jiang Shaohua, who had just been married for a month, was delighted upon hearing the good news. She smiled and said to Chen Changshi and others, "The border troops have won a great victory, and the Rouran troops have been defeated and retreated. This is indeed a happy event."

Chen Changshi smiled and said, "General Yu and Commander Liu have both made great contributions, and the court should reward them. I also congratulate the princess for her great contribution to Daliang."

Nanyang County provided food and troops, and fought two crucial and decisive victories. This credit should be fully attributed to the county lord.

Jiang Shaohua said: "It's not a great achievement to just drive the barbarians back temporarily. This time, the Rouran barbarians occupied six counties, killed countless civilians, and abducted many young and strong people when they retreated. Such a blood feud can only be washed away with blood." Therefore, the princess had to continue training troops and preparing for war.

Chen Changshi understood, and Feng Changshi also understood.

The two chief secretaries looked at each other and responded, "The princess is right."

"The Rouran barbarians have always been eyeing Daliang covetously, treating our Daliang people like pigs and sheep. This is extremely hateful."

The other officials also spoke in agreement.

The princess had a broad mind and lofty ambitions, and the officials of the Nanyang Palace unconsciously developed an arrogant and aggressive character, completely forgetting that it was the court's responsibility to drive out the Rouran barbarians and rescue the people of Daliang, which actually had little to do with the Nanyang Palace.

Jiang Shaohua thought for a moment and said to Feng Changshi: "The Nanyang army suffered heavy losses in this battle. When the soldiers come back, we must give them generous rewards and pensions. We also need to recruit new soldiers to replenish the troops. Please ask Feng Changshi to make preparations early."

The cost of pensions is huge, and recruiting new soldiers is another huge sum of money. Maintaining an army is never an easy task.

Feng Changshi nodded happily in agreement.

A month ago, the princess got married, and the gifts she received were so many that the storeroom couldn't even hold them all. Recently, the storeroom in the palace has been quite full.

Ma Yaozong smiled and interrupted: "No matter what, the Rouran's retreat is always a happy event, and we should hold a banquet to celebrate. How about I go and arrange it now?"

Jiang Shaohua agreed with a smile.

There are only a few important officials in the palace, so two tables will be enough for a banquet.

Jiang Shaohua sat at the head of the table, and Changning Earl Cui Du calmly sat at the second seat. Everyone raised their glasses to drink, and Cui Du concentrated on serving food to his newlywed wife.

Jiang Shaohua smiled softly and said, "You don't have to be busy taking care of me."

Cui Du blinked and smiled softly, "I just like to serve you food. Seeing you eat it with relish makes me happy."

Jiang Shaohua smiled and glared at him.

Cui Du quietly reached out and held her hand through the sleeve of his robe.

Newly married couples tend to be affectionate with each other behind people's backs but not too intimate in public, but it is common for them to exchange glances.

At first, everyone tried to avoid suspicion, fearing that the princess or the Earl of Changning might be too shy to show it. But soon they found that the young couple had no embarrassment at all. Everyone got used to it.

After the banquet, the young couple went back hand in hand.

Yin Zhu Tu Bai was also used to standing guard outside the door. The two chatted casually: "Chang Ning Bo has been staying in the inner courtyard of the palace for a month. Could it be that he doesn't want to go to the farm?"

"Probably not. The Earl of Changning has an official job, so how can he stick to the princess every day?"

Inside the house, the young couple hugged each other intimately and whispered.

"I have asked someone to pack my luggage, and I will go to the farm tomorrow." Cui Du whispered reluctantly.

Jiang Shaohua hummed, raised his head and kissed his face: "You go to work, and I will visit you at the farm when I have time."